First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Her heart broke in response, her arms gripping at him tightly as she nuzzled into him. “God I’m sorry..I’m so sorry..I don’t want you to feel that way..I keep trying to improve and I make it worse.”

Yet she saw how contradicting she was being, calling him brave, reliable and yet not coming to him when she needed him. “I hope..I can improve..and prove myself better..and show you how much you mean to me.”

Taking a shuttering breath against him, a lone tear escaped her eye.

“I hope y-you can too.” he whispered quietly. “N-no more running away. N… no more staying at peoples houses when you’re hurt, or scared. I’m… I’m supposed to look after you…” Jack turned his face, brushing his nose against her temple, eyes tightly shut as he did. “Please…”

She didn’t dare promise, not this time though she felt terrible for it. People made mistakes, they were allowed them and she hadn’t gotten in such trouble since the incident with Six. It wasn’t like she did this every week.

“Okay..” she whispered, pulling away from him slightly to place her palms on his cheeks, caressing the skin with her thumb. “Okay..I’ll come to you for everything…” She tried fighting back the lump in her throat, leaning forward to press her forehead against his chin.

“I love you so much Jack..more than you’ll ever know..”

“And I love you, Katelynn. W-with all my heart.” he whispered back to her gently, lifting his hand to push it through her hair softly. “Nothing w-will ever change that… nothing at all…”

First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

“N-No..” she whispered, moving over to him and putting her hands on his forearms, her hands trembling over him. “I-I just..I guess I was wrong..to do that and I’m sorry..I just hate causing you to worry and yet show you I get hurt or avoid you it’s all I seem to do. I don’t know what to do anymore..how to stop making these mistakes..”

She swallowed, the trembles moving over her entire body and happy she wasn’t crying at least. She was too stunned to possibly.

“What do I do..? Either way I seem to lose..”

“I don’t know.” he whispered quietly, miserably. He just felt like an utter failure, again. He said he would always be there for her, to keep her safe, yet what had happened? She’d been hurt, and she’d run away from him to keep him from worrying. But he had worried all the same, about how she was doing. Was she safe? Last time she’d run off and he’d tried to call her there was no answer so he hadn’t even tried to call her. What kind of man was he? He shut his eyes, and shook his head. “I just d-don’t know…”

Jack slowly pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her. “Y… you have to tell me things. T-that you’ve been assaulted by someone, whether you f-feel you asked for it or not… I’m s-supposed to take care of you and if I c-can’t help avoid the confrontation a-at least let me help you get better afterwards… o-otherwise… wh-why are we getting married i-if I can’t even tend to you…? Katelynn I lo-love you so much but I’m so scared, still, that I’m n-not enough. And you r-running away from me only m-makes me feel that way more. So please… no more of this. Please.”

Her heart broke in response, her arms gripping at him tightly as she nuzzled into him. “God I’m sorry..I’m so sorry..I don’t want you to feel that way..I keep trying to improve and I make it worse.”

Yet she saw how contradicting she was being, calling him brave, reliable and yet not coming to him when she needed him. “I hope..I can improve..and prove myself better..and show you how much you mean to me.”

Taking a shuttering breath against him, a lone tear escaped her eye.

“I hope y-you can too.” he whispered quietly. “N-no more running away. N… no more staying at peoples houses when you’re hurt, or scared. I’m… I’m supposed to look after you…” Jack turned his face, brushing his nose against her temple, eyes tightly shut as he did. “Please…”

First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Feeling like the bottom of her stomach had flipped around, Katelynn licked her lips and tried to find the right words.

“It’s not that..I just didn’t want you to see the bruise and get worried…” She stopped short, remembering they had had this conversation before. “When I came to you before..like when I’ve been beaten up by Hot Flash..all I did was cause you worry and pain..and I’ve been trying so hard to stay away from villains and yet this one ran into me and..I failed to stay safe like I promised..I didn’t want you to get worried..”

It had more to do with that than helping Harrison out. If she hadn’t been smacked she wouldn’t have stayed away from him.

He groaned, and covered his face. “S-so any time you end up hurt you’ll run away from me, is that it?” he asks into his hands. “W-what if when we get married a-and you get pregnant. Wh-what happens then, when the time to give birth comes? Th-that will hurt. Will you run from me then, to keep me f-from worrying?” he asked, “D-damnit, Katelynn,” he lowered his hands from his face. “I d-don’t know how to feel now.” he admitted weakly, “I just. Don’t.”

“N-No..” she whispered, moving over to him and putting her hands on his forearms, her hands trembling over him. “I-I just..I guess I was wrong..to do that and I’m sorry..I just hate causing you to worry and yet show you I get hurt or avoid you it’s all I seem to do. I don’t know what to do anymore..how to stop making these mistakes..”

She swallowed, the trembles moving over her entire body and happy she wasn’t crying at least. She was too stunned to possibly.

“What do I do..? Either way I seem to lose..”

“I don’t know.” he whispered quietly, miserably. He just felt like an utter failure, again. He said he would always be there for her, to keep her safe, yet what had happened? She’d been hurt, and she’d run away from him to keep him from worrying. But he had worried all the same, about how she was doing. Was she safe? Last time she’d run off and he’d tried to call her there was no answer so he hadn’t even tried to call her. What kind of man was he? He shut his eyes, and shook his head. “I just d-don’t know…”

Jack slowly pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her. “Y… you have to tell me things. T-that you’ve been assaulted by someone, whether you f-feel you asked for it or not… I’m s-supposed to take care of you and if I c-can’t help avoid the confrontation a-at least let me help you get better afterwards… o-otherwise… wh-why are we getting married i-if I can’t even tend to you…? Katelynn I lo-love you so much but I’m so scared, still, that I’m n-not enough. And you r-running away from me only m-makes me feel that way more. So please… no more of this. Please.”

First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

She swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling a bit as if she had to go to the gallows. He’s not going to like this..

“Okay..don’t..get worried or anything..but someone bumped into me..a new villain..I didn’t go looking for him but he looked like Six a bit and yet he wasn’t…and I might have told him off a bit because of the way he was talking about Six and he..smacked me really hard and caused a bruise on my face..I didn’t want you to see it so I went to Harrison’s building to get bandages and he was turned into a two year old by magic anons so I decided to heal up by babysitting him at his apartment..”

She squared her shoulders a bit, waiting to see what he thought about that and trying to be brave. It really hadn’t been her fault but she hadn’t wished to worry him in that moment. And now she was facing the consequences of not telling him the truth…

He stood there for a moment, expression blank, before lifting his hand and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as he shut his eyes. Jack breathed in slowly, chest lifting and falling with every breath. He grasped his elbow, looking as though he was ready to stand that way for a while. The fact she’d been struck by someone enraged him to a level he didn’t like. How she had run from him, rather then seek him for comfort hurt him emotionally, as if she couldn’t trust him. To think she hid from him, babysitting their friend, rather then see him herself… he could have helped out too. Jack liked kids well enough, and one on one scenarios rarely presented themselves.

He released his hold on his nose and lowered his arm, eyes momentarily shut.

“…do you think you can’t come to me for things?” he asked quietly.

Feeling like the bottom of her stomach had flipped around, Katelynn licked her lips and tried to find the right words.

“It’s not that..I just didn’t want you to see the bruise and get worried…” She stopped short, remembering they had had this conversation before. “When I came to you before..like when I’ve been beaten up by Hot Flash..all I did was cause you worry and pain..and I’ve been trying so hard to stay away from villains and yet this one ran into me and..I failed to stay safe like I promised..I didn’t want you to get worried..”

It had more to do with that than helping Harrison out. If she hadn’t been smacked she wouldn’t have stayed away from him.

He groaned, and covered his face. “S-so any time you end up hurt you’ll run away from me, is that it?” he asks into his hands. “W-what if when we get married a-and you get pregnant. Wh-what happens then, when the time to give birth comes? Th-that will hurt. Will you run from me then, to keep me f-from worrying?” he asked, “D-damnit, Katelynn,” he lowered his hands from his face. “I d-don’t know how to feel now.” he admitted weakly, “I just. Don’t.”

First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Katelynn waved at her as Violet exited, feeling her heartbeat increase now that she was alone with Jack; save for their two dogs who had been out of the room at the moment.

Probably sleeping I guess… she thought, watching Jack and knowing she had to explain herself now and yet not knowing where to begin, her eyes turning to watch him closely and wait to see what he would say. She felt her whole body warm up as she waited.

He looked at her for a moment, his expression turning to one of uncertainty. Jack didn’t like talking to Katelynn about what she does wrong; she plays the victim card very well, and he always falls for that trap but they had discussed this. The last time she had left a note and vanished she’d ended up locked underground all night until Six sought her out for him. Lifting a hand, Jack rubbed his arm with his palm slowly. “S-so… why d-did you vanish this time…?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling a bit as if she had to go to the gallows. He’s not going to like this..

“Okay..don’t..get worried or anything..but someone bumped into me..a new villain..I didn’t go looking for him but he looked like Six a bit and yet he wasn’t…and I might have told him off a bit because of the way he was talking about Six and he..smacked me really hard and caused a bruise on my face..I didn’t want you to see it so I went to Harrison’s building to get bandages and he was turned into a two year old by magic anons so I decided to heal up by babysitting him at his apartment..”

She squared her shoulders a bit, waiting to see what he thought about that and trying to be brave. It really hadn’t been her fault but she hadn’t wished to worry him in that moment. And now she was facing the consequences of not telling him the truth…

He stood there for a moment, expression blank, before lifting his hand and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as he shut his eyes. Jack breathed in slowly, chest lifting and falling with every breath. He grasped his elbow, looking as though he was ready to stand that way for a while. The fact she’d been struck by someone enraged him to a level he didn’t like. How she had run from him, rather then seek him for comfort hurt him emotionally, as if she couldn’t trust him. To think she hid from him, babysitting their friend, rather then see him herself… he could have helped out too. Jack liked kids well enough, and one on one scenarios rarely presented themselves.

He released his hold on his nose and lowered his arm, eyes momentarily shut.

“…do you think you can’t come to me for things?” he asked quietly.

First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

nightmare-in-violet:

Violet smiled warmly. “I’d really like that. I’ll definitely take you guys up on it.” She really did like the idea. Most of the time, Violet either found a place around the city to hang out when she wanted to draw, or spent time at the garage when she wanted company. But she really liked Jack, and Katelynn, and she didn’t have many friends she could just hang out with and … well, feel normal.

But another time. She could see Katelynn nuzzling the blue man, and the feelings she was sensing from the two of them suggested that they should have some time alone right now. She finished her water, and got to her feet, picking up her shoulderbag. “In the meantime, though, I need to go finish up some errands. I hope I’ll hear from you soon, though?”

“Oh y-yes.” Jack said, face flushing just a little from when Katelynn had nuzzled him like that. She had been gone over two days, of course he’d missed her and was thrilled to see her back to the way she was, back to the woman he’d fallen in love with but of course he would still love her no matter what. Sure it would be weird, if she’d been stuck as a… leafy.. monster thing but he couldn’t have abandoned her. He walked to the door and opened it for Violet, smiling still. “You t-take care, Violet.”

Katelynn waved at her as Violet exited, feeling her heartbeat increase now that she was alone with Jack; save for their two dogs who had been out of the room at the moment.

Probably sleeping I guess… she thought, watching Jack and knowing she had to explain herself now and yet not knowing where to begin, her eyes turning to watch him closely and wait to see what he would say. She felt her whole body warm up as she waited.

He looked at her for a moment, his expression turning to one of uncertainty. Jack didn’t like talking to Katelynn about what she does wrong; she plays the victim card very well, and he always falls for that trap but they had discussed this. The last time she had left a note and vanished she’d ended up locked underground all night until Six sought her out for him. Lifting a hand, Jack rubbed his arm with his palm slowly. “S-so… why d-did you vanish this time…?”

First, What Is Your Name?

nightmare-in-violet:

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“Either w-way, you’re always welcome here.” Jack said with a genuine smile. “You can b-bring your art book and just lounge on a b-bean bag and draw what you want a-and y-yeah.” he refused the offer of water, though. He wasn’t thirsty.

“Oh that’s a good idea!” Katelynn bounced a bit, looking like an excited puppy. “Hang out here whenever you want. You’re totally welcome to.”

Not that she disliked being alone with her fiancee, of course not, but she hoped having someone else around, a friend, would be good for him. It warmed her heart he was inviting her to stay, nuzzling her nose slightly against his cheek for a moment before pulling back.

Violet smiled warmly. “I’d really like that. I’ll definitely take you guys up on it.” She really did like the idea. Most of the time, Violet either found a place around the city to hang out when she wanted to draw, or spent time at the garage when she wanted company. But she really liked Jack, and Katelynn, and she didn’t have many friends she could just hang out with and … well, feel normal.

But another time. She could see Katelynn nuzzling the blue man, and the feelings she was sensing from the two of them suggested that they should have some time alone right now. She finished her water, and got to her feet, picking up her shoulderbag. “In the meantime, though, I need to go finish up some errands. I hope I’ll hear from you soon, though?”

“Oh y-yes.” Jack said, face flushing just a little from when Katelynn had nuzzled him like that. She had been gone over two days, of course he’d missed her and was thrilled to see her back to the way she was, back to the woman he’d fallen in love with but of course he would still love her no matter what. Sure it would be weird, if she’d been stuck as a… leafy.. monster thing but he couldn’t have abandoned her. He walked to the door and opened it for Violet, smiling still. “You t-take care, Violet.”

First, What Is Your Name?

nightmare-in-violet:

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“That’s my main concern ab-above all others.” Jack said as he rubbed his hands, and glanced back at the creation he was making which looked like a flower ripping itself up out of its pot where it belonged. Ironic he worked on that today of all days. He looked back to Violet. “E-even with the number of heroes in this town, th-there’s always a risk of things happening.” caution was a must.

Bringing out a water bottle, Katelynn sat down next to Jack and handed them both water in case they were thirsty. It was strange to her but a bit of the sweet fragrance from when she had been a Pokemon seemed to linger in the air, calming Katelynn’s worries in the kitchen down.

“Just in case you’re both thirsty. And um Violet..if you’re tired, would you like to spend the night? As thanks for today.”

“I guess that’s just how life is,” she said to Jack, with a small shrug. “All we can do is try and deal with it as it comes.”

Violet accepted the water, but not the offer of staying the night. “Thanks, but I’m not that tired, Katelynn. I just need to rehydrate a bit.” Still, she looked around the small, artsy apartment with its scattering of beanbags, and had to admit it was nice. I could see myself in a place like this one day, she reflected.

“Either w-way, you’re always welcome here.” Jack said with a genuine smile. “You can b-bring your art book and just lounge on a b-bean bag and draw what you want a-and y-yeah.” he refused the offer of water, though. He wasn’t thirsty.

First, What Is Your Name?

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

“Of course,” she giggled, getting up and kissing Jack’s head on her way to the kitchen to prepare something for her, making sure to bring her several things just in case and leaving them to talk for a moment.

Jack had eyed the weapon wearily, telling Violet straight up that he wasn’t the one who designed or made it. He watches Katelynn leave the room before sighing, and looked back to the dark skinned girl and smiled faintly. “C-crazy day or what?” he asked, “But t-thank you again. I rather y-you find her then somebody else…” somebody who probably wouldn’t have been able to understand her, who would have made her fight or do their work for them. That would have been horrible.

Well, that certainly complicated things. But Violet could tell that this wasn’t the time to ask more questions – she’d save that for later, when she talked with Katelynn about other things.

She all but chugged the tea that Katelynn had brought. Violet was in good shape, but she still thin and not used to carrying loads, and piggybacking the Lilligant back to the apartment had been a workout. “I know what you mean,” she told Jack, once she’d paused long enough to breathe. “It’s awful when the anons pass through, and it seems like they’ve been getting more creative every time.” She thought of the past times she’d been hit – first she’d lost her powers, and then she’d been turned into one of the Blue People. “But at least she’s okay now.”

“That’s my main concern ab-above all others.” Jack said as he rubbed his hands, and glanced back at the creation he was making which looked like a flower ripping itself up out of its pot where it belonged. Ironic he worked on that today of all days. He looked back to Violet. “E-even with the number of heroes in this town, th-there’s always a risk of things happening.” caution was a must.

First, What Is Your Name?

will-never-be-a-swan:

nightmare-in-violet:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Shoot, she thought, taking a hold of it quickly and holding it protectively. “Thank you..” And left it at that, knowing she couldn’t wave it around. It was supposed to be a secret and yet now someone else knew.

“Is there any way I can repay you? Food or something?”

She was about to refuse – you don’t need to repay me for everything – but then Violet realized she actually could use that offer. “Something to drink would be good, now that you mention it.” She gave Katelynn a wry grin. “Even when you’re a shrubbery, you’re no lightweight.”

“Of course,” she giggled, getting up and kissing Jack’s head on her way to the kitchen to prepare something for her, making sure to bring her several things just in case and leaving them to talk for a moment.

Jack had eyed the weapon wearily, telling Violet straight up that he wasn’t the one who designed or made it. He watches Katelynn leave the room before sighing, and looked back to the dark skinned girl and smiled faintly. “C-crazy day or what?” he asked, “But t-thank you again. I rather y-you find her then somebody else…” somebody who probably wouldn’t have been able to understand her, who would have made her fight or do their work for them. That would have been horrible.